ViewRanger, the GPS app and website that lets mountain bikers plan, navigate, and share their riders, has added automatic route generation to the trail planning tools available at My.ViewRanger.com.

The site uses a range of routing engines to analyse the terrain and available rights of way in order to offer the best path based on mode of transport. Take a look at the video below to see the software in action.

The worldwide service allows the user to specify how they are making the journey, so the route can be optimised to use footpaths or cycle ways. By placing waypoints at the start location and end destination, the route generation tool will offer an automated route.

The route can then be manually amended and, once saved, uploaded to the user’s mobile device so the planned course can be followed using the ViewRanger app.

ViewRanger CEO Craig Wareham said: “Automated route planning using our web service came out as the most popular service enhancement requested. Route generation brings together the best routing suggestions for journeys on foot, by bike, or car into a simple, seamless user interface.”

It’s free to create an account on My.ViewRanger.com and to build routes using the tool on a range of global open source web maps. Where purchased, the service also offers automated route planning on  detailed topographic maps for the UK and a number of other countries.